Safety scheme stays on road after funding

£10k lotto grant means screening project can continue

A vital Forth Valley road safety initiative has received a funding respite thanks to a £10k lottery grant.

But organisers of the Safe Drive Stay Alive initiative this week stressed it is a constant struggle to keep the project going on an annual basis.

Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils have contributed towards the scheme’s transport costs.

Safe Drive Stay Alive treasurer Melanie Mitchell said this week: “It costs £24,000 in total to put the film on over five days at the Macrobert. Each of the three local authorities in the Forth Valley used to make a contribution, but over the years it tailed off. We have also received a few smaller grants from a variety of companies over the years.

“But the money received has never totally covered the cost of putting the film on each year.

“It costs £8500 to hire the Macrobert and there are other overheads like transport costs on top of that.

“This year we applied for funds from the lottery for the first time and received £10,000. Had we not got the lottery funding, more fundraising would have had to be carried out. Last year the screening was already half way through before funding was in place.

“This year the funding was in place, but that’s very much an exception. Every year we have to beg to get the money in place to keep the screenings going.”

Safe Drive Stay Alive is aimed at 16 to 24 year olds, the age group most likely to be involved in traffic collisions.

The screenings for school pupils will take place at the Macrobert from Monday, February 5.

The education project spells out the consequences of a serious road traffic collision and features members of the emergency services and relatives of road accident victims.

Stirling MP Stephen Kerr said this week: “Surely we can all recognise how important this event is. It is extremely hard hitting and so it should be.

“Our young drivers have to see just how devastating the impacts of serious incidents are and I hope they will carry that with them as they begin to drive.

“I also want to encourage everyone, of any age, to come to the Thursday evening presentation, it will make you think long and hard about how we all behave on our roads. I also want to see the funding sorted out so the event can keep running as it must.”

Last year Stirling Council described the Safe Drive, Stay Alive campaign as a worthy project.

And a spokesman had emphasised that the local authority was committed to continuing its support to the project in future.

Every year we have to beg to get the money in place to keep screenings going